Blog Feed: $30 date night | Date Ideas, Marriage & Romance Blog

When the Eiffel Tower is Just Too Small

Published on 2012-05-07 22:17:12

My friend M was dating a perplexing girl for awhile. They’d go to dinner, and as soon as they were seated at their table, she’d disappear. The vanishing act would continue all night – right after entrée, again after main and then once dessert had finished. She’d be gone for fifteen minutes at a time, [...] > read more

Fifty Shades of What Women Want

Published on 2012-05-04 01:45:33

Take a careful look at that woman on the train engrossed in her e-reader. Is there a small, satisfied smile on her face? Is she shifting uncomfortably in her seat… looking a little hot under the collar, perhaps? If she is, it’s entirely possible that she’s up to something that she doesn’t want you to know [...] > read more

Date Review: Huxtaburger

Published on 2012-05-03 02:13:28

Huxtaburger has been the name on every Melburnian foodie’s lips lately. Devotees of the new burger joint are effusive – Instagram-washed arty pictures of burgers are plastered all over my Facebook stream (and I've added a few here for your own viewing pleasure). I myself had but a tiny taste on my way into the adjacent Bill’s Bar on opening night, ducking back out to the fluorescent-lit grill for a teeny-tiny Rudy burger > read more

Oyster Hour at Mezzo Bar

Published on 2012-04-26 21:43:55

Pro: Mezzo Bar / Mid April (Australian Fall) Picturesque = a wonderful space, outside, summer breeze yet leaves falling in the top end of little bourke street, Melbourne of course. Con: The date lasted approximately 45minutes – because we only spent $30! > read more

Are the Days of First Dates Over?

Published on 2012-04-15 23:06:29

For all the pressure put on the occasion, first dates are never a good indicator of the raging success of a relationship. There are so many rules surrounding this most daunting of dating customs. We’re told we must stand out from the crowd – choose a unique venue, say the right things, wear the right [...] > read more

We Did It! The Worst Date Idea Ever.

Published on 2012-04-10 16:50:25

It was the date night that was never supposed to happen. The Worst One Ever, in fact, as voted by users of $30 Date Night. It was regular user Ming who submitted, a few years back, the date night idea of Cutting Each Other’s Hair. It’s clocked only 1.5 stars on our 5 star rating system, from a total of 474 votes (and counting). > read more

Missing You

Published on 2012-03-14 18:46:51

Den and I have been together long time. A long, long time. Longer than any of our previous relationships. In dog years, we’re middle aged. In Kardashian years, we should have been dead and buried ten times over already. A month ago, he went away overseas. He’s not coming back for another whole month. He’s [...] > read more

How do you celebrate your anniversary when you’re 8000 miles apart?

Published on 2012-03-05 18:02:19

You meet for brunch! See how $30 Daters made their 3rd year wedding anniversary work over brunch 8000 miles apart. > read more

Who Has Your Ex Been Poking on Facebook?

Published on 2012-03-04 23:39:16

It’s always been the Murphy’s Law of the dating universe – that the one time you’re doing the milk run with greasy hair, trackies and Ugg boots is the exact moment you’re going to bump into your ex. If the love gods are feeling particularly cruel, the ex will have a new squeeze on their [...] > read more

San Francisco: Nick’s Crispy Tacos

Published on 2012-03-01 18:07:49

No doubt about it, San Francisco is a massive city! Even still, Nick’s Crispy Tacos is no secret to the Bay Area. Located near the corner of Polk St & Broadway in Nob Hill - this place was packed, and for good reason too. Davide, a good friend of mine and a San Fran local chaperoned me as I have left the beautiful wife back in Australia to look after our massage business back home. > read more

How You’re Probably Killing Your Libido

Published on 2012-03-01 05:16:42

Lost, one libido. Answers to the name of Larry. Careful, may be bitey. The daily commute. Long working hours. Low energy. High interest rates… I don’t mean to depress you, but I’m worried. The worrying is also worrying, because it’s only further adding to the problem. What problem, you ask? That would be the missing mojos. [...] > read more

Relationship Advice? Never. Do. This.

Published on 2012-02-26 22:52:59

If there’s one piece of relationship advice I could universally give everyone in the world – it would be to never end up being this girl. This brilliant piece of film is the visual adaption of This is What Crazy Looks Like, via Text Messaging – two NZ radio hosts do a brilliant job of [...] > read more

What to do When You Hate Valentine’s Day

Published on 2012-02-12 02:59:20

I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m a cheap date. You have to be when you own a business called $30 Date Night. When Den takes me out on the town, it barely ever sets us back more than $40 – and that’s when we’re splurging. Ditto when I take him [...] > read more

Those Three Words

Published on 2012-02-05 22:16:03

I love you. Three tiny, little words capable of big things. They carry much weight, those three words. It’s somewhat of a currency early in a relationship – saying ‘I love you’ is a major milestone, an indicator that you are no longer just fooling around, that you have something real together. Hearing it back [...] > read more

Has True Love Officially Carked It?

Published on 2012-01-31 19:29:31

Forgive me while I fixate for a bit longer on keeping relationships alive. I was ready to let it go after last week’s column, but then Seal and Heidi dropped their bombshell on us all, leaving us with the fallout – true love has been obliterated to smithereens all around us. Everywhere you look, people [...] > read more

Giveaway: The Vow

Published on 2012-01-29 19:09:11

Oh dear. I can tell there will be tears when it comes to this movie. I’ve long been obsessed with memories. I’m fascinated by how subjective and slippery they are – how we never really know what actually happened, we just have to trust in our brains to feed us the right information. Even [...] > read more

Behind the Scenes at $30DN

Published on 2012-01-26 17:42:13

Learn a little more about Emma and Denis, the creators of $30DN. How $30DN first started and why they're so cheap! Included are photos and the first designs Denis created of the $30 Date Night Generator. > read more

If Your Days Really Were Numbered…

Published on 2012-01-25 00:09:53

Forget the apocalypse, if we keep modelling our relationships on celebrity marriages and chasing sky-high Hollywood rom-com expectations, we're all doomed. > read more

Sex On The Beach

Published on 2012-01-10 02:01:39

Its vacation time for Emma and me; we've survived the New Year festivities and are relaxing our way through a sunny beach-side Queensland holiday... The ocean is warm, the sand is gloriously soft and I'm feeling as frisky as a squid on Tuesday. Needless to say sex on the beach was a high priority on this beach-side vacation. > read more

Sunshine and Good, Cheap Food

Published on 2011-12-11 05:31:59

It was a beautiful day in Melbourne last Thursday. I always say there is nothing quite like a gorgeous Melbourne day. It is partly because we never know when the good weather might come back. It may be 30 degrees and sunny now, but by Christmas day we could have 17 degrees and pouring rain... > read more

How to: Support your partner when they’re stressed

Published on 2011-12-07 23:05:29

It’s moving week. I told you all about it a few weeks ago – how I was expecting to be tired, at my wit’s end and neck deep in boxes by now. Well, I’m all that. And to add to the fun, all the expected relationship stress has peaked this week as well. So now [...] > read more

Weddings & Princesses

Published on 2011-10-24 20:16:33

Weddings and princesses. Diehard fans of both these things know they have something in common. Both give us hope. Hope that there’s something magical going on out there. That fairytales really do exist. And that true love is real. Let’s start with princesses. So rare, kids can be forgiven for thinking they’re make-believe. When I [...] > read more

An Open Letter to Ms. Julia Gillard

Published on 2011-06-29 08:16:11

Dear Ms Gillard, I need you to do something for me, please. Well, it’s really not just for me, it’s for all of Australia, and indeed the world. We need you to legalise gay marriage in Australia. I’m not a gay woman. But that doesn’t matter > read more

W is for Whisk(e)y Tasting

Published on 2011-06-29 06:22:55

Not many of our $30 Date Nights involve alcohol due to the prohibitive cost. At best, there's picnics with BYO wine from the cellar (doesn't count if it was paid for eons ago... or even last week!) so you know you're onto a good thing when you can ge > read more

Why You Should Try a Wingwoman

Published on 2011-06-07 02:28:32

It’s happened more than once: Cocktails in hand, girly catch-up session in progress. Enter stage left? An attractive girl on her own. She breaks into the group with some sort of compliment – “Great shoes,” or “Love your hair.” – you w > read more

V is for Vegetarian Feast

Published on 2011-05-30 22:16:23

Our Alphabet Dating Challenge is drawing to a close and it's getting to the pointy end of the alphabet where the letters are harder and harder to match to an appropriate date idea (X, Y, Z are all giving me cold sweats). V, luckily, had quite a f > read more

The Walk of Shame

Published on 2011-05-25 04:36:59

I don’t need to list the benefits here of all the fun involved in a one-night stand. Anyone that’s had the pleasure, so to speak, will know the lure of a no-strings-attached, one-show-only romp. But, fun as the night can be, the problem comes wi > read more

The Movie Trailer Marriage Proposal

Published on 2011-05-22 02:10:40

You guys know I’m a sucker for a great marriage proposal… this one is awesome! It’s all explained in the video… > read more

In ‘U’SA we eat!

Published on 2011-05-19 02:18:15

The concept of the "Great American Diner" is a novelty to Australia. I never knew it existed until Emma mentioned it, an all American diner in our very own backyard of Melbourne. Excited, I was dying to find out if the American Diner would cut the mu > read more

Now This is a Wedding Video!

Published on 2011-05-15 22:33:17

Joya and Emre didn’t want your average wedding video – instead they turned themselves into rockstars with this MTV Video-style piece that just put a huge smile on my face! Love it! > read more

T is for Titanic

Published on 2011-04-22 04:28:58

This was a fabulous date that we managed to squeeze in on our Vegas trip among conferencing and partying and getting married and whatnot. And I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. For the next almost-decade, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition will > read more

The Truth About Nice Guys

Published on 2011-04-06 06:04:40

Baby fell for Johnny. Sandy pulled out all stops to get Danny. Lisa Simpson even had a thing for Nelson for awhile. And we all remember when Carrie left Aidan for Big. What is it about the casual air of the devil-may-care bad boy that sends women > read more

S is for Shopping

Published on 2011-03-30 00:53:47

I’m not one of those women who drags their husband shopping for new clothes. I always feel sorry for them, the guys who sit forlornly outside the changerooms in boutiques as their woman parades garment after garment in front of them for their “op > read more

Win a Date Night with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston

Published on 2011-03-15 18:07:18

A funny thing happened to Den after we got married. He noticed that when out with friends in bars or clubs, women were more flirty with him. They would be more open, talk for hours rather than fobbing him off and spout cliches like “All the goo > read more

Row Your Boat Date Idea

Published on 2011-03-10 04:13:59

Includes Video! The row boat date idea on Central Park Lake - New York. Inside you'll get tips on how to make your row boat date idea fun. The vid makes some reference to Emma's karaoke performance in Vegas - I've sworn never to show it, but I've sti > read more

Are You a Relationship Chameleon?

Published on 2011-02-24 21:38:16

Rewind my life seven years or so and you’d find an almost-unrecognisable girl. I didn’t drink, as a rule (though rules are, and were in this case, made to be broken), and I practiced Reiki while I wore Birkenstocks and read non-mainstream, naval- > read more

Surviving Valentine’s Day for Singles

Published on 2011-02-17 22:11:48

Just three short sleeps to the biggest date on any singleton's calendar. Yep, Monday is Singles Awareness Day. As it looms closer, I hear noises of discomfort from friends. Most will assure you they hate Valentine's Day - who wants the overpric > read more

Q is for Quesadillas

Published on 2011-02-14 20:32:40

I have to admit, Q had me stumped for awhile! I turned to Twitter for inspiration and my fantastic Tweeps had a plethora of ideas for me… A day trip to Queenscliff, a game of quoits and a quickie among them… we settled on a late afternoo > read more

Who Lies About Money?

Published on 2011-02-12 05:29:34

The very clever team at Deals.com has come up with this cute-as-a-button visual representation of Love & Money based on some recent findings… just in time for Valentine’s Day! Money is one of those Big Things that couples argue most a > read more

5 Perfect Date Ideas Beginning with P

Published on 2011-02-07 16:16:21

10 more dates to go and we’ve finished the alphabet! Here is my pick of the P Date Ideas for you. How’s your alphabet dating going? Have I missed any good P ones we should know about? Pack a Picnic A classic! Take a fully-stocked picnic > read more

Where Did All the Men Go?

Published on 2011-02-06 18:04:17

This is an open letter to the eligible bachelors of Australia: Where did you all go? There is a plethora of fantastic, smart, attractive single ladies here for you – some are great friends of mine – but you all seem to have collectively d > read more

Date Ideas and The Circle

Published on 2011-02-03 00:52:58

It’s been quite the day! I joined the lovely crew of The Circle on Network Ten here in Australia to chat all things date night, cheap dates and more… unfortunately we were cut off just at the end by a press conference covering the Tropica > read more

What They Don’t Tell You About Summer Romances

Published on 2011-02-01 22:41:15

Welcome back to reality, people. It’s been a sad, soggy summer for many, but even so, romance has been in the (rather humid) air for others. Summer romances are beautiful things. When you’re on holiday, you’re a million metaphoric miles from > read more

P is for Photography Night Walk

Published on 2011-01-31 04:30:34

This P date was a great one. My darling husband bought me a much longed-for DSLR camera a year or so ago and I rarely get to use it for arty shots. Mostly because it’s hard to find the time. So I found this great Australian company, Photograph > read more

Can You Define Romance?

Published on 2011-01-26 18:40:12

Everyone’s got a different idea of romance… lets take Valentine’s Day for example. It’s around the corner (only a few weeks away) and it’s pimped out as the MOST romantic day of the year. Whether you accept it or not, that is how most o > read more

5 Outstanding Date Ideas Beginning with O

Published on 2011-01-18 23:02:10

Orienteering To be honest, a week ago I didn’t even really get what Orienteering was. Well, I knew it involved co-ordinates and maps and things like that… and I have vague memories of a compass and a girl guide uniform in my childhood… But we d > read more

O is for Orienteering / Geocaching

Published on 2011-01-16 19:04:13

Use your smart phone to locate hidden containers around you city. Daters Emma and Denis spent a few hours trekking through Melbourne CBD to see what hidden caches they could find. It's cheap, easy to do and a fun date idea playing secret squirrel. Re > read more

Co-dependent Couples

Published on 2011-01-11 19:14:37

My parents are one of those couples who have to do EVERYTHING together! There are exceptions such as shopping or running errands, but on whole they won’t spend a night apart and heaven forbid if they’re going to travel without the other person. > read more

Revenge: A Dish Best Served Cold

Published on 2011-01-11 15:15:41

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned… And it does seem to be the women that are particularly good at exacting revenge. It’s easy to fly into a temper when your partner does something wrong by you. Something really wrong, I mean. Like c > read more

Date Night for 2011 begins! The Night Market.

Published on 2011-01-06 22:54:07

The first date night for 2011 found us at the Suzuki Night Market at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne… and it was AWESOME! You don’t want to be shy of crowds in any market – let alone the Melbourne’s Night Market – it was packed! > read more

6 Nifty Date Ideas Beginning with N

Published on 2011-01-04 16:35:51

Okay this is one of those ones where we draw a few long bows and you tolerate it happily… and if you have any great N date ideas then hand ‘em over! We desperately need some! Night Walks I remember when I was little we went with my Girl Guide tro > read more

Do You Scare Potential Relationships Off?

Published on 2011-01-04 03:22:27

I’m all for forthright and honest communication. That said, I think there’s also something to be said for playing cards close to your chest sometimes. At least for a little while. Not so for a girl I know, L. L is a genius at scaring people off > read more